T-SHIRT--Anthony
Walton in official T-shirt.
[Photo by Aaron Walton]
By Mervin Walton
WASHINGTON, D.C.--WCG members joined 75,000 other Christians from around the country, and from as far away as Australia, at the CallDC in Washington Sept. 2.
The CallDC was a day of fasting and prayer for the nation, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a special emphasis on youths. It was conceived in part as a response to the Promise Keepers Stand in the Gap meeting in Washington in 1997, in which men were exhorted to lead their families in a walk with God.
The CallDC stressed reconciliation of the youths to their parents and a commitment to set a godly example on their school and college campuses, and pray for and evangelize their peers.
The rally began at 6 a.m. with prayer led by Pastor Che Ahn of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, one of the initial sponsors of the inter-denominational event. Corinthia Boone, a Washington area minister, officially welcomed the attendees to the city.
A cross section of the Christian church was represented throughout the day. Native American musicians and dancers led worship and prayed, Jewish Christians led in prayer for Israel, Catholic youths prayed, Asian-American, African-American and other ethnic groups were represented as well.
Youth leaders were prominently featured throughout the day, giving powerful testimonies of their walk with God and successful evangelizing of peers.
The day was organized around five major themes, revelation, repentance, reconciliation, revival and revolution. Prayer was focused around these themes, and giant television screens displayed the current theme at each transition.
Pastor Lou Engle, also from Harvest Rock Church, discussed God's inspiration for the CallDC, while Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) repented on behalf of the U.S. government for the 40 million abortions in our nation since abortion was legalized.
Coach Bill McCartney of Promise Keepers washed his son's feet as a sign of humility and reconciliation. Parents in the audience washed or kissed their children's feet. Parents repented of the sins of the Baby Boomer generation such as drug abuse that now affect the children.
Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ spoke of being a slave for Christ, and encouraged the youths to dedicate themselves to serve Christ totally. He described how God had used him to establish a major ministry once he and his wife, Vonnette, dedicated themselves to God's service. Ron Luce of Teen Mania challenged the youths to commit to a summer or winter short-term mission trip to reach the lost.
Christian artists including Rebecca St. James and Michael W. Smith led worship. Smith sang a tribute to Cassie Bernall, who was killed at Columbine High School. Darrell Scott, father of Rachel Scott who was killed at Columbine, also addressed the gathering. Students from Columbine lit a martyr's torch and presented it to him on stage, after which it was passed through the crowd.
At the close, youths were commissioned as student missionaries to their schools and colleges, given books and CDs to encourage them in their walk with God, and exhorted to start a spiritual revolution by being bold witnesses and evangelists in speech and life-style.
Worldwide Church of God attendees included Amy Arnold, Wes Leiter, Matt and Micah Royal, Fayetteville, North Carolina; Bill and Davina Winn, Greenville, North Carolina; and Mervin, Laura, Andrew, Aaron and Anthony Walton, Pasadena; and others from Kentucky and other eastern states.
Mervin Walton is an elder in NewLife Fellowship in Pasadena.
T-SHIRT--Anthony
Walton in official T-shirt.
[Photo by Aaron Walton]
THE CALLDC--A day of fasting and prayer. [Photos by Laura Walton]
TV SCREEN--Pastor Che Ahn.
WALTONS--From left: Anthony, Aaron,
Mervin, Andrew and Laura.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000